What to do to make my forum active?

Hi, I have a little to spend on advertising and stuff, so far I have had my site submitted to 200,000 directories and bought a couple of people to post on my forum and a few more little things, but I need to know what to get to make my forums active...

I don't have too much to spend ($20 or so) at the moment but can anyone tell me how you got your forums active? and where and what to buy to do so?

Thanks,

 

What I did to get my forums started was make topics to start a long conversation and make posts to continue a conversation. It's basic but it works, for me at least.

 

Make the forum interesting and lively. Moreover join in the social networking sites and make friends and try to promote the forum there.

 

Start a couple of topics, get your friends to do a bit of posting.
With the $20 you could buy members or posts, good way to give your forum the boost that it needs.

 

create discussions that need more that just a yes or no answer.

politics/religions normally end up in good topics/debates.

members only competitions can also help.

 

Members competitions are great, maybe have a posting competition and give away something as a prize.

 

Yes, I am about to start a posting comp. if you want to enter I will post it in the Contests board here.

 

reward active members to keep them posting and to encourage others to post.

things like coloured usernames, extra sig space or bigger avatar limits are always great novelties that you can use to your advantage.

 

It takes a long time unfortunately I have the same issues, I think the most important key is constantly updating content